‘Perfect Fit’ – Adam Henry Set To Develop Elite Receivers
3/23/2022 1:40:00 PM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Adam Henry had hit the emotional wall. He was done. Finished.
For a while, anyway.
When it comes to coaching, nothing is permanent. The love of the profession, of teaching and building and competing was -- and is -- too strong to say goodbye.
But last year's loss of his mother and father, combined with the grind of a demanding NFL job, left Indiana's new receivers coach seeking a get-away.
"A lot of times in this society," he says, "we just go, go, go and don't take a break mentally to reflect and reassess."
Henry, 49, left his job as the Dallas Cowboys receivers coach after their January playoff loss. He passed on a Super Bowl opportunity to watch one of his former receivers, Odell Beckham Jr, play for a championship.
"It had been 25 years that I've been at it, just never really settled down," Henry says. "I missed two brother's weddings, funerals, get-togethers and birthdays. I took time to relax."
Then Tom Allen called.
Indiana had a sudden need for a receivers coach when Grant Heard left for Central Florida in February. Allen has strong coaching connections in college and the NFL. He has a vision for what he wants in a program, in the young men who play for him and the coaches who work with him.
Allen's over-riding coaching theme -- L-E-O (Love Each Other) -- resonates on a national scale.
It certainly resonates with Henry, who has coached 12 years in the NFL, 13 in college.
"It is a family setting here," Henry says. "Not to say that it isn't in the NFL, but I had heard a lot of positive things about Coach Allen. From what I'm seeing now, it's real.
"It's just a great fit for me."
Henry has a mix of college (LAU, McNeese State) and NFL experience (Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, and Dallas Cowboys).
He has coached some of the best receivers in the last decade with Pro Bowlers CeeDee Lamb, Anquan Boldin, Amari Cooper, Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landrew, and Zach Miller.
Lamb made the 2021 Pro Bowl with 79 catches for 1,102 yards and six touchdowns.
Developing elite receivers, Henry says, starts with confidence.
"That's one of the most important things."
He reflects back to his McNeese State days, where he played and coached.
"Most of the time when I got a receiver (out of high school), he never really played receiver. A lot of times, he was a great quarterback or running back; he played baseball and basketball; was an athlete.
"We sculpted them into being a receiver. That is where I got my tenure of experience coaching guys and developing them to play receiver and the technical part of it."
Going to the NFL refined Henry's ability to develop talent.
"Not only do I have tape of it and examples, but it is real life things that I really believe in. And, if I believe in it and I am teaching it, and they believe in what I am teaching, then they are going to go with preparation and confidence to execute at a high level."
A high level is crucial to Big Ten success. If Henry can get Hoosier receivers to prepare like NFL veterans, imagine the possibilities.
"That is the biggest thing about being a pro on and off the field, about being a technician with your craft. We know at this level, in the Big Ten, it is big-time football. You have to be on your game every week.
"For me, it is about the consistency and the preparation. If I can bring that to this group; the confidence, the energy, the enthusiasm, I am just ready for that."
Like Allen, Henry teaches concepts and not positions. You learn the concepts and then play "with energy and enthusiasm."
It's the way learning is done in the NFL. Receivers understand the offense, the game plan and what needs to be done.
"Guys may play outside and inside in different spots," Henry says. "If I understand what we are running and how (it all works together), I can go inside and outside and move around."
This involves attention to detail, extensive note taking. In other words, preparing like a pro.
"Meeting time and preparation is so important," Henry says. "And then bring that to the practice field.
"Repetition is the mother of all learning. We have to get the reps in and keep prepping those things and the fine details of it."
Henry's IU prepping began this week as co-offensive coordinator as well as receivers coach. He's part of the Hoosiers quest to return to their high-scoring ways of previous seasons after a disappointing 2021.
"This is a great place for me to be," he says. "I believe that this is a great program on the rise, and I am proud to be a part of it. The atmosphere is totally what I am looking for. I am excited to be here and ready to go to work."
Allen is just as excited to see Henry work.
"Adam's leadership skills and experience coaching at the highest level in our game will provide a huge lift to our receivers room," Allen says.
"He is a man of high character. He's a perfect fit on our staff."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Adam Henry had hit the emotional wall. He was done. Finished.
For a while, anyway.
When it comes to coaching, nothing is permanent. The love of the profession, of teaching and building and competing was -- and is -- too strong to say goodbye.
But last year's loss of his mother and father, combined with the grind of a demanding NFL job, left Indiana's new receivers coach seeking a get-away.
"A lot of times in this society," he says, "we just go, go, go and don't take a break mentally to reflect and reassess."
Henry, 49, left his job as the Dallas Cowboys receivers coach after their January playoff loss. He passed on a Super Bowl opportunity to watch one of his former receivers, Odell Beckham Jr, play for a championship.
"It had been 25 years that I've been at it, just never really settled down," Henry says. "I missed two brother's weddings, funerals, get-togethers and birthdays. I took time to relax."
Then Tom Allen called.
Indiana had a sudden need for a receivers coach when Grant Heard left for Central Florida in February. Allen has strong coaching connections in college and the NFL. He has a vision for what he wants in a program, in the young men who play for him and the coaches who work with him.
Allen's over-riding coaching theme -- L-E-O (Love Each Other) -- resonates on a national scale.
It certainly resonates with Henry, who has coached 12 years in the NFL, 13 in college.
"It is a family setting here," Henry says. "Not to say that it isn't in the NFL, but I had heard a lot of positive things about Coach Allen. From what I'm seeing now, it's real.
"It's just a great fit for me."
Henry has a mix of college (LAU, McNeese State) and NFL experience (Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, and Dallas Cowboys).
He has coached some of the best receivers in the last decade with Pro Bowlers CeeDee Lamb, Anquan Boldin, Amari Cooper, Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landrew, and Zach Miller.
Lamb made the 2021 Pro Bowl with 79 catches for 1,102 yards and six touchdowns.
Developing elite receivers, Henry says, starts with confidence.
"That's one of the most important things."
He reflects back to his McNeese State days, where he played and coached.
"Most of the time when I got a receiver (out of high school), he never really played receiver. A lot of times, he was a great quarterback or running back; he played baseball and basketball; was an athlete.
"We sculpted them into being a receiver. That is where I got my tenure of experience coaching guys and developing them to play receiver and the technical part of it."
Going to the NFL refined Henry's ability to develop talent.
"Not only do I have tape of it and examples, but it is real life things that I really believe in. And, if I believe in it and I am teaching it, and they believe in what I am teaching, then they are going to go with preparation and confidence to execute at a high level."
A high level is crucial to Big Ten success. If Henry can get Hoosier receivers to prepare like NFL veterans, imagine the possibilities.
"That is the biggest thing about being a pro on and off the field, about being a technician with your craft. We know at this level, in the Big Ten, it is big-time football. You have to be on your game every week.
"For me, it is about the consistency and the preparation. If I can bring that to this group; the confidence, the energy, the enthusiasm, I am just ready for that."
Like Allen, Henry teaches concepts and not positions. You learn the concepts and then play "with energy and enthusiasm."
It's the way learning is done in the NFL. Receivers understand the offense, the game plan and what needs to be done.
"Guys may play outside and inside in different spots," Henry says. "If I understand what we are running and how (it all works together), I can go inside and outside and move around."
This involves attention to detail, extensive note taking. In other words, preparing like a pro.
"Meeting time and preparation is so important," Henry says. "And then bring that to the practice field.
"Repetition is the mother of all learning. We have to get the reps in and keep prepping those things and the fine details of it."
Henry's IU prepping began this week as co-offensive coordinator as well as receivers coach. He's part of the Hoosiers quest to return to their high-scoring ways of previous seasons after a disappointing 2021.
"This is a great place for me to be," he says. "I believe that this is a great program on the rise, and I am proud to be a part of it. The atmosphere is totally what I am looking for. I am excited to be here and ready to go to work."
Allen is just as excited to see Henry work.
"Adam's leadership skills and experience coaching at the highest level in our game will provide a huge lift to our receivers room," Allen says.
"He is a man of high character. He's a perfect fit on our staff."
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